A Rohingya representative has reportedly been killed by miscreants in a Bangladesh refugee camp on Monday.
As per media reports, this is the second such death in three days amidst tensions continue over the planned repatriation of around 750,000 Rohingiya refugees to Myanmar from where they fled after August, 2017 military crackdown.
In a news report published by Mizzima News, the deceased has been identified as one Yusuf Ali, who was a camp leader at the Balukhali camp along the Bangladesh-Myanmar international border. Mohammad Yusuf, reportedly a leader in the neighbouring Thaingkhali camp, was shot dead on Friday last, the media report claimed.
As per the report, 60-year-old Ali, who was known as a Rohingya ‘majhi’ (camp leader) was stabbed to death. Earlier, one Mohammad Yusuf, who was reportedly a pro-repatriation leader, lost his life.
As per media reports, Mohammad Yusuf was in favour of the repatriation process, but many Rohingya refugees are reportedly unwilling to go back to their homes if certain demands are fulfilled by the concerned authorities. He was killed by a group of armed and masked men who reported had spoken Rohingiya language.
Though local media has linked the killings to fears of being sent back, the police have rejected any such link.
It may be mentioned that Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a joint agreement for repatriation of the Rohingiya Muslims who had fled from Rakhine state of Myanmar in August last after the Myanmar’s security forces started crackdown on Rohingiyas. The exodus of Rohingiyas began on August 25 after Rohingya militants attacked police posts, killing 12 members of the security forces.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh authorities have been trying to draw up a list of Rohingya, among nearly one million in the Rohingiya refugee camps along the international border, who could be sent back to Myanmar.
After the signing of an agreement with Myanmar, the Bangladesh authorities had wanted to start the repatriations on Tuesday but have the operation has been delayed stating that more time needed get get prepared for it.